Ololade Adeyanju/
A federal high court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of two houses in Ikoyi, belonging to former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through one of its counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, had approached the court, seeking an order of interim forfeiture of the buildings located at 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, in Eti Osa local government area of Lagos State.
He had told the court that they were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through “proceeds of unlawful activities”.
Part of the reliefs sought by the EFCC included: “An order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria landed property with appurtenances situate, lying and known as No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State found and recovered from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.”
The Commission alleged in a supporting affidavit that Saraki, who served two terms as Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011, “withdrew over N12bn cash from the account of the Kwara State Government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistants, Abdul Adama, at different intervals.”
The EFCC counsel also argued that the court was empowered to order the temporary forfeiture of the landed asset to the Federal Government.
Justice Liman agreed with him.
After ordering the temporary forfeiture of the property, the judge directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper.
He gave 14 days for Saraki or anyone interested in the property to appear before him to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the former Senate President in his response to the court judgment, claimed the judge was misled into granting the order.
Taking to his verified Twitter handle @bukolasaraki, the ex-Kwara State governor noted: “My attention has been drawn to an Order granted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos pursuant to an ex-parte application by EFCC.
“It is my belief that the judge was misled into granting this Order and was not presented with the full position of the law or the facts.
“It is my belief that the Court was not informed of a pending Order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restraining EFCC from taking any steps regarding the seizure of the property in question pending the determination of a suit filed before that Court.
“I also believe that the Court was not made aware that the property in question formed part of the judgment of the Court given on July 6, 2018 where the Supreme Court declared that the source of funds for the purchase of the property was not illicit as claimed by the prosecution.
“The Supreme Court specifically referred to No 17a McDonald Road, Ikoyi on pages 12, 13 and 26 of its judgment upholding the no-case submission made before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“I am confident that once these facts and the declaration of the Supreme Court are brought before the Court, this Order will be vacated.
“My lawyers will be approaching the Court immediately to achieve this.”
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